DUNKLEY MP Jodie Belyea says that the federal government’s proposed gambling reform will honour the legacy of her predecessor Peta Murphy.
In June 2023 an anti-gambling inquiry chaired by Dunkley MP Peta Murphy released its final report, making 31 recommendations on gambling reform. Proposed changes included a ban on online gambling advertising, stronger consumer protections for licensed online gambling, a crackdown on illegal gambling websites, and a legislated duty of care. Murphy died roughly six months after the report was released.
After years of delays, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the federal government’s plans for gambling reform this April. His proposed legislation fell short of acting on all of the inquiry’s recommendations, and has drawn criticism from anti-gambling advocates (“Gambling reforms unveiled” The News, 7/4/2026).
Jodie Belyea, who was elected to succeed Murphy in 2024, said that the legislative changes are “the most significant federal gambling reforms of any Australian government.”
“When I was preselected as the candidate for the federal seat of Dunkley in 2024, I knew I was stepping into big shoes – Peta Murphy’s shoes. Peta was fearless in her work on gambling reform and many other social issues. She brought into sharp national focus what families, advocates and communities already understood: gambling harm is widespread, deeply damaging and, importantly, preventable,” Belyea said.
Belyea defended the length of time between the report’s release and the proposed legislative change, saying “I’ve learned that in government, change doesn’t come from shouting the loudest all the time. It comes from doing the work, listening, building support and staying at the table long enough to get it done. Those principles have shaped my approach to gambling reform.”
“I haven’t been the loudest voice. At times, I have been criticised for not moving faster. But effective advocacy inside government is about being tenacious without being reckless; principled without being performative. It is about staying focused on outcomes,” Belyea said.
When unveiling the reform, Albanese said “the federal government plans on restricting gambling advertising on broadcast television to no more than three ads each hour between 6am and 8.30pm, with a complete ban during live sport broadcasts within those hours; banning gambling ads on the radio during school drop off and pick up times; banning gambling ads through online platforms, unless people have a logged in account, are over 18 and have the option to opt-out of gambling advertising; banning the use of celebrities and sports players in gambling ads, along with odds-style ads targeting sports fans; and banning gambling ads in sports venues and on players’ and officials’ uniforms.”
Belyea said that “on the day these reforms were announced, Peta’s husband Rod Glover said Peta would have been proud of the progress made.” In a statement issued after the reform was unveiled, Glover said “the outcome achieved today is not perfect, but policy rarely is. This package represents a significant step forward on an issue the community cares deeply about.”
Belyea said the reforms “are about balance. Adults can still make their own choices. But Australian children should not be bombarded with gambling advertising everywhere they turn, on screens, at the footy, or on the way to school. This is about creating a new generation that doesn’t conflate sport with gambling and the odds.
“Having participated in royal commissions into domestic and family violence and mental health, I know how long reform takes. Through my current work on parliamentary inquiries, from the National Redress Scheme through to Thriving Kids and to the health impacts of alcohol and drugs, I’ve seen firsthand that lasting reform takes time. But it’s always worth it.”
With the proposed reforms set to be implemented from 1 January 2027, Belyea says she will continue to advocate for stronger measures.
“I remain a strong advocate for continued reform: stronger regulation and enforcement, crackdowns on illegal offshore operators, greater national consistency around match‑fixing laws, expanded access to financial counselling, and continual improvement of BetStop based on what works,” she said. “I am deeply committed to this work and the reform journey until fewer families are harmed and more people are supported to rebuild their lives. That’s my commitment to the people of Dunkley and to Peta’s legacy.”
First published in the Frankston Times – 5 May 2026